Summer is upon us and that means more time spent outdoors soaking up the glorious rays of the sun. Although many find laying out at the pool or the beach to be an enjoyable activity, a new study has found that achieving that perfect tan may come at a dangerous price.

Researchers have found that cases of melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer, have been increasing among younger women in recent years. According to a report published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the numbers of young women who have gotten melanoma have increased from 9.4 per 100,000 in 1980 to 13.9 per 100,000 in 2004. The study used newly registered data of melanoma instances from a collection of white men and women between the ages of 15 and 39 years old. Although people are warned to avoid long periods of time in the sun, most don’t heed to this wise advice and many also don’t take the necessary precautions to avoid getting sun burnt, which can often lead to the appearance of melanoma and other health related problems.

One of the most popular reasons that people get sunburn is because they don’t apply a sunscreen protector, which is meant to block the UV rays of the sun from damaging the body. Most people don’t feel that a little sunburn can be damaging to their health, but the truth is, whenever there is a change of your body’s skin color that is an indication that your body has been exposed to heavy amounts of harmful UV rays. Another misconception is that if the sun is not directly shining down on a person’s body, say if it’s hidden behind a cluster of clouds, then the rays won’t be as damaging. The truth is that even if the sun is hidden the UV rays can still be just as harmful to a person’s skin thus increasing their risk for skin cancer. Statistics have shown that roughly around 8,000 Americans die from cases of melanoma each year, and according to Dr. Jeffrey C. Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, young people need to become aware of the dangers that can come from over exposure to sunlight.

“Young people should consider these statistics as a warning that they, too, are susceptible to this potentially dangerous form of skin cancer.”

Summer is a time to kick back; let loose and just have a good times with friends and family. Whether someone is young, old, or somewhere in between, it’s important for people who are exposing themselves to the harmful rays of the sunlight to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against the harmful disease of skin cancer. Although a tan may look great, it’s not as important as your life.

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Tags: BCBSNC, Health News, Healthy Living //